Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 91416 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91416 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
“Are you an idiot? Your family gave their word I wouldn’t be harmed.”
“I don’t care. My da is going to punish me and no doubt hate me more than he already does.”
“So, you blame others for something you can change yourself? That’s pathetic,” She pushed off him and stood. “You got yourself a bloody nose and for what?”
He sneered. “And you got yourself a bloody lip and I’m glad.”
“Truly? And what do you think your da will do when he sees my lip.” She shook her head. “Forget your da, it’s Knox you should worry about.”
Ethan paled.
“Didn’t think that far ahead, did you?”
He stared at her blankly.
“That’s your problem, you don’t think,” Dru said, cringing at the taste of blood in her mouth.
“I do too,” he argued.
“Nay, you don’t. Your da takes pride in his hounds.”
“More than me.”
“Then show interest in your da’s hounds, true interest, so that he teaches you how to command them and you can share his pride in them together and he can be proud of you for taking on the challenge.”
“His hounds can be nasty.”
“Only when necessary or commanded. Otherwise, they are just like you, wanting attention, rubs, hugs, told they’re doing good. Do that and you’ll win them over in no time. Continue to lie and do things that shame your da and you risk losing his respect and your honor.”
As if something heavy had just been dropped on his shoulders, they sagged slowly. “It’s too late. I lost his respect by punching you and dishonoring his word.”
He was close to tears again and though he had wronged her, she couldn’t help feeling sorry for him, and a bit frightened. There was no telling what Knox or Ethan’s da would do to him.
“Leave it to me when they all return and agree with whatever I say, understand,” Dru said, and Ethan nodded.
Lady Agatha hurried into the room with a smile that turned to complete horror when she looked at her son and then at Dru. “Oh, no, no, no, noooo.” She ran from the room.
“Remember, agree with everything I say,” Dru reminded Ethan quickly, and he nodded again.
Chieftain Liam, his wife, and two sons came charging into the Great Hall the same time Knox entered.
The fury on Knox’s face when he saw the blood on his wife’s lip had Ethan stepping closer to Dru.
“What happened here?” Knox demanded with such anger that Dru could have sworn it caused the room to shiver.
Liam and his family were too stunned or too fearful to utter a sound.
It didn’t matter, so Dru spoke up. “You’re not going to believe this.”
“For both your sakes, I better,” Knox said.
“Well, it all started with a rat—”
“A rat?” Lady Agatha said, glancing around. “You promised me you got rid of them, Liam.”
“I thought I did,” Liam said.
“Go on, Dru,” Knox said skeptical.
“The fat rat scurried right out in front of me. I screamed, and Ethan,” —she turned and patted his shoulder— “came to my rescue while I jumped up on the table. Unfortunately, I lost my balance and tumbled off the table.” She looked at Ethan again, who was nodding furiously in agreement. “Ethan tried to help me, and we both went tumbling. We went down hard. I hit my lip on the end of the table and Ethan smacked his nose on the edge of the bench. The rat got away.”
“That’s quite a tale, Dru,” Knox said, walking over to her.
“And every bit the truth. Right, Ethan?” Dru said and turned, seeing that Ethan was as pale as a ghost. She nudged him.
He spoke so fast all his words ran together. “Right.Right.ItallhappenedjustlikeDrusays.”
“Oh, my goodness and here I thought—” Lady Agatha shook her head.
“You should have asked me before you took off, Agatha,” a voice called out from a dark corner.
“Did you see it all, Da?” Lady Agatha asked.
A slim, elderly man stepped out of the shadows. “I saw the whole thing, every bit of it.”
Dru turned and she could feel panic rise in Ethan beside her. “Good, someone to confirm what I said.”
Knox looked from Dru to the elderly man. It was quick but he caught it. An exchange of sorts between them.
“She’s right. It was a fat rat, and Ethan did a good job, trying to help her,” the elderly man said.
You could hear the sincerity in Ethan’s voice when he said, “Thanks, Grandda.”
Servants carrying jugs and platters of food entered the Great Hall.
“Everyone sit and eat before any matters are discussed,” Lady Agatha commanded. “Knox, you and your lovely wife join us at the dais. And you too, Ethan, for paying heed to your da’s word and trying to keep Dru safe.”
Knox took hold of his wife’s arm when she went to walk past him and whispered, “Later, you will tell me the truth.”
“Come, Dru,” Lady Agatha called out. “I have water and a cloth so you can clean your face and Ethan can wash up as well.”